They are on a run of seven games without a win in regulation and while the Toronto Maple Leafs don’t seem ready to panic just yet, the fanbase is already on the edge of their seats as this feeling seems all too familiar. The argument is that, yes, it’s only March. But for a team that was in the conversation of a division title only a week ago, to now be amongst those in the wildcard conversation, it’s safe to say it’s been a rough couple of weeks for Craig Berube‘s team.
Throughout the year, the frustration has surrounded the team’s lack of consistent offence. They weren’t seeing enough production from the blue line at one point. While another point of the season had no depth scoring for the blue and white. Now, the concern is with captain Auston Matthews and his inability to get things going in the goal scoring department – with just three goals in his last 10 games.
But, offence aside, this team’s losses aren’t coming in the offensive zone. In fact, over this seven-game run the Maple Leafs are averaging 3.14 goals per game which should be more than enough to win consistently in the NHL. Their issue, instead, is coming on the defensive side of the puck. Over that same seven-game span, they are giving up an average of 4.29 goals per game – a number that won’t lead to many wins.
With that said, where are the Maple Leafs breakdowns happening and why?
Maple Leafs Are Losing Key Battles on the Ice
Most recently, the Maple Leafs lost an important Atlantic Division game against the Ottawa Senators giving up four goals with Anthony Stolarz looking somewhat average between the pipes. What was more telling, however, was their lack of ability to transition the game from their own end and move the play up ice.
“Their three goals were all about losing battles inside the blue line,” said Berube following the loss to the Senators, excluding the empty-net goal against. “We didn’t win enough battles there in that area. It’s urgency for me and details in the first two periods that weren’t there… it’s an attitude that we have to have from the start of the game.”
This loss came on the heels of a 10-game run in which the team averaged 9.9 giveaways within their defensive end. Overall, they’ve had 99 giveaways inside their end over that span. On the contrary, the Maple Leafs had just five takeaways in…
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